Winding and tightening mechanism



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 30, 1931 J. K. DUNCAN ETAL.

WINDNG AND TIGHTENING MECHANISM Filed oct. a, 1930 4June 30,` 1931. J. K. DuNcAN'E-rm..

wrunnm un 'rmnuuiue uncamrsu Filad Oct. 8. 1930x 2 Sheets-Shut 2 Patented June 30, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT f OFFICE JAMES K. DUNCAN AND RUDOLEH WEIDE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO DITTO, INCORPORATED, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF. WEST VIRGINIA WINDING AND TIGHTENING 'MECHANISM Application led October 8, 1930. Serial No. 487,225.

T however, as the description'proceeds, that the invention is not limited to hectograph machines, but has a much wider field of application.

Referring particularly vto hectograph machines, it may be explained that in the operal tion of such machines a', sheet of gelatin is laid upon a smooth surface, usually fiat', and a master copy is impressed upon said surface so that the ink from said master copy is taken off onto the surface of the gelatin sheet. The sheets of paper are then laid upon the gelatin sheet under a slight pressure, so that the ink from the gelatin sheet is taken up. According p to the hectograph principle, it is a practical matter to make as many as a hundred copies from a single impression upon a gelatin sheet.

In practice itis common to provide the gelatin sheets in the form of bands which take the form of rolls, the gelatin portion being f secured to a fabric or other backing. The

roll is mounted upon a spindle which is carried at one end of the bed. rlhe other end of the gelatin sheet or band is secured to a spindle at the other end of said bed. It will be readily appreciated that in order to per-l form proper duty the gelatin band should be held taut, and, further, that means should be provided fork moving the gelatin band along the bed to provide fresh surfaces'for the hectograph or copying operation. It is also useful to be able to rewind the gelatin band under certain circumstances. varying relative speeds of rotation of the copying band spindles due to increase or decrease in diameter as the copying band is wound from one spindle to the other has always been the subject of considerable attention in the design of duplicating or hectograph machines.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel winding, stretching and rewinding mechanism by means of which the position of any part of the copying'band may be simply and quickly adjusted.

A further object is to provide a winding and stretching mechanism in which the necessary movements for accomplishing winding and stretching may be accomplished by a simple movement of a unitary mechanismf A further object is to provide a winding,

stretching and rewinding mechanism in which the,winding, stretching and rewinding operations may be performed by simple operation.

A further object is to provide a novel, winding, tightenin and rewinding mechanism having readily operable means for winding the band in either direction and tightening said band.

A further object is to provide a winding and rewinding mechanism in which it is necessary in winding or rewinding to'operate only the mechanism involved in that operation, thereby obviating the complications due to variable speeds of the copying band spindles as the diameter of the roll upon each spindle varies.

A further object is to provide a winding and rewinding mechanism which will drive one spindle positively and will automatically disengage from the other or following spindle in such a manner that the following spindle will bel free to rotate without the necessity of dragging 4any part of the mechanism with it.

A further object is to provide a winding and rewinding mechanism which throu h simple lmechanism elements will effect t e positive engagement with either spindle at will and the simultaneous disengagement of the other spindle.

A further 'object is to provide brake o clutch mechanism in connection with each spindle, said brake or clutch mechanism being so related to the remainder of the mechanism that adjustment of the copying band can be made in an infinite number of positions.

A further object is to provide a novel winding, tightening and rewinding'mechanism in which the operating parts may belocated in a position convenient to the operator.

A further object is to provide a winding,

tightening and rewinding mechanism vin which the liability that an operator may carry out the wrong sequence of operations is reduced to a minimum.

A. further object is to provide a mechanism for winding and tightening which mechanism is also provided with means for rewind- "ing, 'but which rewinding mechanism will interfere in no way with the regular winding minimum. J

and tightening operation of said mechanism. A further object is to provide a winding and tightening mechanism which may be operated with a minimum of effort and in a minimum of time.

A further object is to provide a novel winding and tightening mechanism inV which the vspeed ratios between the operating means and the spindles maybe readily changed. A further obj ect is to provide a simple construction in which wear will be reduced to a A further object is to provide a mechanism 4which will lend itself readily to extension to any desired length by simple expedients A further object is to provide a construction of the character above referred to 1n which the necessity for accurate machining and locating of the parts is avoided.

A further object is to provide a positive and simple -means for shifting from awinding to a tightening operation or from a tightening to a winding operation.

A further object is to provide a winding and tightening mechanism, the parts of which may be shipped as units and whlch v may be readily put together rin the field by inexperienced operators in case replacement should be necessary.

A further object is to provide a construction which adapts itself readily to standardization of parts, so that the niimber of different parts which must be manufactured and stored will be reduced to a minimum.`

A further object is to provide a winding and tightening mechanism which vresponds immediately to the action ofthe operatlng handle or other means.

A further object is to provide -a winding mechanism so constructed that the operator may accomplish the tightening operatio with a minimum of eort.

A .further object is to provide a simple mechanism of the kind referred to which may be manufactured at low cost and in which the necessity for highly skilled artisans in the Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the planes indicated by the arrows 3--3 in Figures 1 and 4;

Figure 4 is a ysectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 4.?-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the plales indicated by the arrows 6 6 in Figure v i Figure 7 is a sectional view indicating a detail of construction, and

Figure 8 is a view of a handle which cooperates with the remainder of the mechamsm. i

Referring rst to Figures 1 andv 2 it will be noted that a pair of side frames 10 and 11 are provided. The said side frames are secured together by means of a plurality -of cross braces, one of which is shown in Figure 2 and is indicated by the numeral 12. Securely fixed to the side frame 11 is the bracket 13. The frame 11 houses certain winding and tightening mechanism to be described in detail hereafter.. Attached to the inner side of the frame 11 at the rear and forward ends thereof arev brackets 13, 13, which may be identical with one another. Said brackets provide supports for the'spindle operating mechanism at the two ends of the machine at the right side thereof as the parts are viewed in Figure 2. The side frames 10 and l1 provide supporting means for a bed plate 14 which provides a' smooth surface for a gelatin band indicated bythe numeral 15. As indicated above, the gelatin band is in the form o f a roll. In the operationof hectograph machines a roll (mounted upon a spool or spindle) is located at oneextremity Vof the machine, preferably the rear extremity. The free end of the gelatin band 15 is secured to a spindle or other rotatable means located at the opposite end of the machine. The spindle at the rear of the machine in the embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 2 and is indicated by they numeral 16. Said spindle is shown as having a roll of the gelatin .band disposed thereon. The spindle 16 is journalled for rotawith a smooth journal. The right hand ,ex-

tremity of said spindle 16 will be formed with a non-round contour whereby it may be readily engaged by a rotatable member for the purpose of communicating a positive movement `of rotation to said spindle 16. The structure of the spindle and the mountings therefor for communicating rotary movement to said. spindle form no part of the present invention and need not be described in detail.

Spindles and mountings therefor suitable for the purpose are well known commercially. It will be sufficient to state that the spindle 16 may be positively rotatedin either direction of rotation bymeans of the stub shaft 18, which stub shaft is coaxially disposed relative to the spindle 16 and is rotatably supported by an arm 19 fast with the bracket 13.

The spindle at the forward end of the machine is indicated by the numeral 20 (Figure 3). It may be stated briefly that one extremity of said spindle 20 has a non-round contour at one extremity thereof whereby it may be positively driven by the stub shaft 21 disposed coaxial y` with the spindle 20. Said stub shaft 21 is rotatably supported by means of the arm 19 fast with the bracket 13 nearthe forward extremity of said side frame 11.

'lhe stub shaft 18'connected with the rear. y spindle 16 and the stub .shaft21 connected that the spiral gears 25 and 26 carried by the with the forward spindle 2O are provided with spiral gears 23 and 24, respectively. Said spiral gears 23 and 24 are adapted to cooperate vvith matching spiral gears 25 and 26, respectively, which spiral gears 25 and 26 are disposed upon the shaft indicated as a Whole by the numeral 27 The said shaft 27 will be described more in detail presently, but for the present it may be stated that said shaft .is mounted ina manner to have axial movement, which axial movement is very important in the operation of the illustrated embodiment of the present invention. Said shaft 27 comprises the tubular member 28 which houses at its rear extremity the shaft 29 and at its forward extremity the shaft 30. The shaft 29, at the rear extremity of the machine, may be secured to the tubular member 28 by means of the pin 31. Near its forward extremity the tubular member 28 is provided with'an abutment 32 extending across said tu bular memberwhich abuts one extremity of a coil spring 33 housed within said tubular member 28. spring 33 abuts the shaft 30. Theshaft 30 is providedv with a cross pin 34 adapted to ride vwithin the slot 35 in the tubular member 28.v The shaft 30 is therefore nonrotatably but extensibly secured to the tubular member The other extremity of saidy 28.- The shaft 29 at the rear of the machine,

has fixed thereto the spiral gear 25 andthe shaft 30 at the forward extremity of the machinehas fixed thereto the spiral gear 26. In-4 asmuchl as the shafts 29 and 30 form part of the drive shaft 27, it Will be clear that said spiral gears 25 and 26 will operate in unison. The shaft 29 at the rear of the machine is provided with an enlarged portion 36 which forms a shoulder 36a. Disposed within the enlarged portion 36 is the annular groove 36?). The spiral gear 25 abuts against the shoulder 36a. A sleeve' 360, pinned to the shaft 29 abuts the other side of said spiral gear 25. The sleeve 360 and enlarged portion 36 of shaft 29 are supported Within bifurcations 37 and 38 of the arm 19. The shaft 30 at the forward extermity of the machine is provided with a sleeve 39 adapted to slide Within the bifurcation 38 forming part of the arm 19 (Figure 3). The bushing 39 is disposed against one side of the spiral gear 26. Disposed upon the other side of the spiral gear shaft 27 are spaced apart a distanceless than the spacing of the axes of stub shafts 18 and 21. Inasmuch as the shaft 27 is axially movable, this spacing results in the advantage that the spiral gear 25 may be enga ed with its mating gear 23 to the exclusion o engagement between the spiral gear 26 and its mating gear 24. Conversely, engagement between 'the' spiral gear 26 and its 'mating gear 24 may be had to the exclusion o f engagement vbetween the spiral gear 25 and its mating gear 23. The spacing between the spiral gears 25 and 26 will be so chosen that as the shaft 27 moves axially one Vof said gears 25 or 26 will engage with its corresponding mating gear before disengagement of the other of said gears 25 and 26 from its corresponding mating gear. More specifically, if the shaft 27 is moved to the right from the position shown in Figure 1, engagement between the spiral gear 26 and its mating gear 24 will occur before disengagement has occurred between spiral gear 25 and its mating gear 23.

The pitch angles of the spiral gears referred to will be chosen of the same value so that the meshing and demeshing referred to may be readily accomplished. f

It will'be understood without detailed ex' planation that as the shaft 27 is turned if the particular stub shaft 18 or 21 should be nonrotatably held, as for example, by means which will be described presently, a reaction will be set up to move the shaft 27 with its gears 25 and 26 axially. This action will be referred to with more particularity in the description of the mode of operation, which description will follow presently.

The stub shaft 18 at the rear of the machine is provided with an overrunning clutch or brake, which, for the purpose of this description will be indicated as a whole by the numeral 44.- The stub shaft 21 at the forward end of the machine-is provided with the overrunning clutch or brake which will be indicatedas a whole by the reference numeral 45. The clutches 44..and 45 may be similar in construction and a description of the clutch 44 at the rear of the machine will suiiice for `a description of both of said clutches. Re-

of such tapering recesses are shown symmetrically disposed relative to the axis ofthe stub shaft 18. The wedging member 48 is fast vrelative to the side frame member 11. Said recesses 49-49 are defined by the walls 50-50. Each of said recesses houses a roller 51 adapted to roll freely within the large portion of its corresponding recess. Each roller 51 is pressed by a spring 52 toward the small extremity of the corresponding recess. `Also disposed within each recess 49 is a pin 53 located within the small portion of its corresponding recess. The three pins illustrated are carried by the rotary plate 54, which L plate is rotatably carried by the stub shaft '18. Said rotary plate is provided with an extension pin 55 adapted to be engaged by certain mechanism to be described presently. At this time it may be stated that if the plate 54 be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, as the parts are viewed in Figure 5, the ins 53 will engage the rollers 51, holding t em out of the smaller portions of the recesses 49-49, whereby said rollers 51 will be ineffective to control the connection between .the wedgingmember 48 and the housing 46.

By reference to Figure 2, it will be noted that the wedging member 48 is secured to the bracket by means of the pin 56. The rotary plate 54. is provided with a. notch indicated by the numeral 57 whereby to provide clearance relative to the pin 56, permitting the v necessary rocking movement of said plate 54.

As stated above, the overrunning clutch or brake 45 atthe forward end of the machine is similar in construction to the overrunning clutch 44 just described at the rear of the machine. lThe mechanisms for controlling v said overrunning clutches 44 and 45 will now be described.

Referring to Figure 5, it will be noted that the bracket 13 is provided withi a pair 0f bosses 58-58 which are provided with `axial bores for slidably receiving the short shaft 59. Disposed upon said short shaft 59 is the abutment member 60, said abutment mem-- arcuate face 63 contacts with the bottom ofsaid groove. By reason of the arcuate engagement between Vthe outer face of the abutment member 60 and the bottom of said groove 366, the abutment member 60 is properly positioned relative to the portion 30 `of the shaft 27.k It will be clear that as the shaft 27 is moved axially, the sides of the groove 36?) will co-operate with the abutment member 60 in causing alike movement in the short shaft 59. The abutment member 60 is adapted to engage the extension pin 55 as the short shaft 59 is moved toward the right in Figure 5, thereby moving the' pins 53 into .engagement with the rollers 51 and urging them toward the large portions of the recesses 49 against the tension of the springs 52. When the short shaft 59 is in such a position that the abutment member -60 does not engage the extension pin 55, the springs 52 will be operative to urge the rollers 51 toward the small portions of the recesses 49 whereby to effectually lock the member 46 against rotation relative to -the wedging member 48 in a clockwise, direction as the parts are indicated in Figure 5.

The control means for the overrunning clutch or brake 45 at the forward end of the vided with a head 64b. The pin 64 is held in an uppermost position by means of the coil spring 640 engaging under said head 64b. Said pin 64 is controlled by the eccentric65, which in turn is controlled by the small handle 66. With the handle 66'in the position shown in Figures 1 and 4, a short radius of the eccentric 65 will be in co-operative relationship with the pin 64 whereby the corresponding extension pin 55 will be allowed to assume a-position in which the pins 53h- 53 donot have any effect in compressing the 'springs 52-52. The details of the eccentric 65 are not important in vthis description. Preferably, however, the eccentric or any equivalent thereof should be overcentering whereby said eccentric or equivalent will remain in the position to which it is moved by the operator. When, however, the handle 66 is turned in a counter-clockwise direction, as the parts are viewed in Figures 1 and 4, through a ninety degree angle, a longer radius of the eccentric 65 will be in co-operative relationship with the pin 64, whereby the pins 53 will be held against their` corresponding rollers 51, holding the rollers 51 in the large portions of the recesses 49, thereby rendering inefective any locking relationship between the member 46 and the fixed wedging member 48.

' The crank 43 for operating the drive shaft 27 will now be described. By reference to Figures 1 and 8 it will be noted that said ycrank comprises the hub 67 ada ted to be rigidly connected to the stub sha 30 forming part of the drive shaft 27. Extending` radially from the hub 67 are three arms 68, 69 and 70, the axes of said arms being disposed at one hundred and twenty degrees angularity relative to one another. The arms 69 and 70 comprise radial handles. The arm 68 adjacent to its extremity is provided with the outstanding handle 71, ex-I tending in a direction parallel with the axis of the drive shaft 27 The legs 72 and the' framework 73 for sup` porting the structure above described need not be described in detail inasmuch as such details form no part of the present invention.

Moreover, though in Figure 1 a carriage 74 has been illustrated in outline, no detailed description of the carriage is considered to be necessary inasmuch as carriages suitable for the purpose are commercially well known.

The mode of operation of the above described embodiment of the invention is subgelatin band forward, he will apply a turning force to the crank 43 to turn the shaft 27 in the direction of the arrow 7 5 in Figure 1. At this time (see Figures 1, 2 and 5) the abutment member 61 is out of engagement with the extension pin'55 of the overrunning clutch v44 at the rear of the machine and said f overrunning clutch is operative toprevent clockwise movement of the member 46 as the parts are viewed in Fi re 5. Turning movement ofthe shaft 27 will, by reason of the initial reaction of the spiral gears 25 and 23, result in axial movement of said shaft 27 in a. forward direction, that is, to the right,

as the parts are viewed in Figure 1. This forward movement will continueuntil spiral gear 264 at the forward end of the machine partly meshes with spiral gear 24. After partial meshing of the spiral gears 26 and 24 at the forward end of the machine, the abutment member 60 will engage the extension pin 55 of the rear overrunning clutch 44, moving the pins 53, 53 in a counter-clockwise direction, as the parts are viewed in Figure 5, holding the rollers 51 in the large portions of their corresponding tapering recesses 49. The rear clutch 44 will therefore be rendered inoperative to prevent rotation of the member 46 and the stub shaft 18 fast therewith. Continued turning of the crank 43 to cause rotation of the shaft 27 in the direction of the arrow 75 (Figure 1) will cause continued forward movementj of the shaft 27, that is, to the right, as the parts are viewed in Figure 1. This will result in the complete meshing of the spiral gear 26 with the spiral gear 24 and the demeshing ofspiral gear 25 from spiral gear 23. Forward movement of the shaft 27 will be limited by engagement o f the spiral gear 25 at the rear of the'machine with the bifurcation 37 "(Figure 1)'.5 Continued rotation of the crank 43 will result in the positive driving of the forward spindle 20 and the resultant dragging of the rear spindle 16. It may beexplained at this point, reference being had to Figure 4, that clockwise rotation of the member 46, forming part of the forward overrunning clutch 45, is not interfered with, inasmuch as such clockwise rota-A tion merely tends to move the rollers 51 toward the large portions of their corresponding tapering recesses 49. v

When the operator has moved the gelatin band forward to the extent desired he may render said gelatin band taut by the simple expedient of reversing rotation of the handle 43, thereby turning the drive shaft 27 in the direction opposite to the arrow 75 (Figure 1). The first effect of such counterrotation of the shaft 47 is,'through the reaction of the spiral gears 26 and 24, to cause axial movement of the shaft 27 toward the rear, that is, toward the left, as the parts are viewed in Figure 1. This rearward movement of the shaft 27 will continue until intermeshing relationship is set up between the spiral gears 25 and 23 at the rear of the machine, which intermeshing relationship, as indicated hereinbefore, will be inaugurated before intermeshing relationship between the spiral gears 26 and 24 at the forward end of the machine is interrupted. Rearward movement of the shaft 27 will continue until the spiral gear 26 is in abutting relationship with the bifurcation38 at which time the the direction opposite to the arrow 7 5 will, through the spiral gears 25 and 23 and thel stub shaft 18, result in a turning of the rear spindle 16'in a counter direction. In other words, the member 46 of the rear overrunning clutch 44 will move in a-counter clockwis'edirection, as the parts are viewed in Figure 5, the rollers 51 having no elfe-ct in stopping such counter-clockwise rotation 4of the member 46. However, at the forward end ofthe machine the rollers 51, forming part of the overrunning clutch 45, prevent the counter-clockwise rotation of the member ,46 forming part of said overrunning clutch 45. At this. time the overrunning clutch 44 at the rear ofthe machine and the overrunning clutch 45 at the forward end of the machine hold fast against the tension set up by the gelatin band 15, whereby said gelatin band l5 is held taut.

In some instances it is desirable to move the gelatin band 15 rearwardly either through a short section of its length or to rewind said 53 and the rollers 51, holding said rollers in the large portions of their corresponding recesses 49 and rendering the forward overrunning clutch inoperative. Under these conditions rotation of the crank 43 to turn the shaft 27 in the direction opposite to the arrow 75 will communicate a turning movement to the rear' spindle and there will be no resistance tothe rotation of the forward spindle inasmuch as the forward clutch 45 is inoperative, as immediately above described. When the operator has turned the gelatin band 15 as far as he desires, he will in normal operation move the handle 66 to the position indicated in Figures 1 and 4, allowing the pin 64, under the influence of the spring 640 to hold the pins 53 out of co-operative relation- "both resist the tension of the gelatin bandship with the rollers 51 in the clutch 45 lat the forward end of the machine, whereby acounter-clockwise rotation ofthe member 46 and forward spindle 20 will be prevented. The overrunning clutch 44 at the rear of the machine and the overrunning clutch 45 at the forward end of the machine will therefore 15, whereby said band will be maintained taut.

In this specification, when the distance between the spiral gears 25 and 26 is mentioned, it is intended to refer to the distance between v the point in the pitch line of spiral gear 26,

in complete meshing engagement and the point in the pitch line of the spiral gear 25 which coincides with the pitch line of the spiral gear 23 when said spiral gears 25 and 26 are in complete meshing engagement.

When the term spiral gear is used in this specification, it is intended to refer to the broad class of gearing such as worm gears and other evolutions of the spiral.

The term overrunning clutch is used to mean a device which, when operative, will produce operative engagement between a rotatable member and another member in one direction of rotation of said' rotatable member, but which will prevent said rotatable member to rotate freely in the op-posite direction of rotation of said rotatable member. Another term which might be used is over- .running detent. Though a roller clutch is illustrated and described, it will be clear that clutching or detent means may be substituted means.

The presentV invention is designed' to simplify the operations necessary to be performed by the operator of the machine The crank 43 contributes toward this simplicity of operation. Ordinarily the operator will by standing in front of the machine and the lbed 14 will be located at such a level that it will be convenient for the operator to manipulate the carriage 7 4. Under these conditions the crank 43 will be located slightly below the waist line of the operator. The operator will iind it convenient to use the outstanding handle 71, forming part of the crank 43, but, if in the ytightening operation, the handle 71 should be located at or near the lowermost part of its travel, the efficiency with which the operator may turn the crank 43 will be less than when said handle 71 is in any other part of its travel. Such position of the handle 71 is illustrated in Figure 8. Under these conditions the operator will find it very convenient to apply a downward force to the radially disposed arm 70, using the fleshy part of the palm of his hand for this purpose, if he prefers.

When the handle 71 is at or near that portion of its travelindicated-by the line 7 6 in Figure'8, the operator will be exerting a lifting force upon said handle when he is per-l forming a tightening operation. Under these conditions, particularly if the operator is a' having any other type of point or engaging the palm of his hand for this purpose, if he prefers.

From the foregoing description it will be noted that the invention provides a structure whichmay be made of sturdy parts, simple to manufacture and simple to operate. The number of different p arts has been 'minimized, whereby the matter of stocking spare and repair parts is simplified. The operation of winding, tightening and rewinding is very simple, giving the unskilled operator very little chance to go wrong in the operation of the machine. By reason of the composite construction of the shaft 27, exact parallelismv between the axes of the front and rear spindles is unnecessary, the fittings between the tubular member 28 and the shafts 29 and 30 being sufficiently loose in ordinary practice to provide the necessary accommodation of the parts, if the axes of said spindles at the front and rear of the machine should not 4be position-ed with absolute accuracy. For this purpose it may be preferred by the manufacturer to leave a rather loose fitting between said tubular member 28 and the shafts 29 and 30.

- Itwill be understood also that, if preferred, the spiral gears 25 and 26, instead of being spaced apart a distance less than the distance between the axes of the spindles 16 and 20, may be spaced' apartl a greater distance. For proper operation, however, the feature should be preserved that in the axial movement of the shaft 27 one of said spiral gears I25, 26 is enmeshed with its `mating spiral gear before demeshing of the other of said spiral gears 25, 26 is accomplished. Moreover, the feature should be preserved that when one lof the spiral gears 25, 26 is completely enmeshed with its mating spiral gears, the other of said spiral gears-25, 26 should be completely demeshed.-

' Though the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, many modications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended to cover all such modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. In winding and tightening mechanism in combination, an axially movable rotatable shaft, a pair of spiral gears secured to said shaft, a pair of second spiral gears adapted to mate alternately with said first mentioned spiral gears,fand overrunning clutch means for controlling the rotation of said second spiral gears.

2. In winding and tightening mechanism, in combination, an axially movable rotatable shaft, a pair of spiral gears secured to said shaft, a pair of second spiral gears adapted -to .mate alternately with said first mentioned s spiral gears, and overrunning clutch means 4. In winding and tightening mechanism,

in combination, a rotatable axially movable shaft, said shaft having mounted thereon a pair of spiral gears, a second pair of spiral gears adapted to engage selectively with said first mentioned spiral gears, said shaft having resilient means incorporated therewith to permit variation in the distance between said first mentioned spiral gears. I

5. In winding and tightening mechanism, in combination, a shaft, spiral gears mounted upon said shaft, second spiral gears having fixed axes adapted to be enmeshed selectively with said first mentioned spiral gears, overrunning clutch members co-operating with said second spiral gears to limit the direction of rotation of each of said second spiral gears, and means controlled bysaid shaft for controlling the effectiveness of one of said clutches.

6. In winding and tightening mechanism, in combination, a shaft, spiral gears mounted upon said shaft, second spiralgears having I fixed axes adapted to be enmeshed selectively with said first mentioned spiral gears, overrunning clutch members co-operating with said second spiral gears to limit the direction of rotation of each of said second spiral gears, and means controlled by said shaft for controlling the effectiveness of one of said clutches, said shaft being variable in length and having resilient means interposed therein to control the distance between said first mentioned spiral gears.

lwith said rotatable members, said clutches -being adapted to resist pulling effect upon said rotatable members by said band, and

means for selectively controlling the operativeness of said clutches.

8. In winding and tightening mechanism,

in combination, a pair of rotatable members adapted to control a pair of spools having a band connecting same, a longitudinally movable rotatable shaft, spiral gears carried by said shaft, second spiral gears adapted to be enmeshed selectively by said first mentioned spiral gears inl response to axial movement of said shaft, said rotatable members beingconnected to said second spiral gears, clutches 10 havin co-operative relationship with said rotata le members, said clutches being adapted to resistpulling effect upon said rotatable members by said band, and means responsive to the axial movement of said shaft for controlling the operativeness of one of said clutches.

9. In winding and tightening mechanism,

in combination, a pair of rotatable members adapted to control apair ofspools having a band connecting same, a longitudinally movable rotatable shaft, spiral gears carried by said shaft, second spiral gears adapted to be enmeshed selectively by said first mentioned spiral gearsA in response to axial movement of said shaft, said rotatable members being connected to said second spiral gears, clutches -having co-operative relationship with said rotatable members, said clutches being adapted to resist pulling effect upon said rotatable members by said band, means responsive to -axial movement of said shaft for controlling the operativeness of one of said clutches, and manually operable means for controlling the effectiveness of the other of said clutches.

10. In winding and tightening mechanism, in combination, an axially movable` rotatable shaft, spiral gears mounted thereon, second spiral gears having their axes at right angles to said shaft, the spacing between said first 4o mentioned spiral gears being less than the spacing between the axes of said second spiral gears, clutches controlling the rotation of said second spiral gears, said clutches being adapted under normal operation to permit rotation of each of said second spiral gears in only one direction, and means responsive to axial movement of said shaft for controlling the operativeness of one of said clutches. 11. In winding and tightening mechanism, in combination, an axially movable rotatable shaft, spiral gears mounted thereon, second spiral gears having their axes at right angles to said shaft, the spacing between the axes of said first mentioned spiral gears being less than the spacing between the axes of said second spiral gears, said clutches being adapted under normal operation to permit rotation of each of said second spiral gears in only one direction, means responsive to` axial movement of said shaft for controlling the operativeness of one of said clutches, and manual means for ,controlling the operativeness of the otherof said clutches.

12. In winding and tightening mechanism, in combination, an axially movable rotatable shaft, spiral gears mounted thereon, second spiral gears adapted to co-operate with said first spiral gears, the spacing between said first mentioned spiral gears being different from the distance between the axes of said second spiral gears, said spacing being such that one of said first mentioned spiral gears is enmeshed with its mating second spiral gear before the other of said irst mentioned spiral gears is demeshed from its mating second gear in the axial movement of said such that one of said first mentioned spiral gears is enmeshed with its mating second spiral gear before the other ofV said first mentioned spiral gears is demeshed from its mating second gear in the axial movement of said shaft, each of said first mentioned spiral gears being capable of complete disengagement vfrom its mating second spiral gear in the axial movement of said shaft, said shaft 4being variable in length between said first mentioned spiral gears, and resilientmeans disposed intermediate of the length of said shaft for controlling the distance between lsaid first mentioned spiral gears.

14. In winding and tightening mechanism, in combination, anaxially movable rotatable shaft, spiral gears mounted thereon, second spiral gears adapted to co-operate with. said first spiral gears, the spacing between said first mentioned spiral gears being different from the distance between the axes of said second spiral gears, said spacing being such that one of said first mentioned spiral gears is enmeshed with'its mating second spiral gear before the other of said first mentioned spiral gears is demeshed from its mating second gear, each of said first mentioned spiral gears being capable of complete disengagement from its mating second spiral gear in the axial movement of said shaft, said shaft being variable in length Ab etween said first mentioned spiral gears, and clutch means cooperatively associated with each of said second gears and adapted under normal operation to permit rotation'of each, of said second gears in one direction only.

15. In winding and tightening mechanism,

in combination, an axially movable rotatable shaft, spiral gears mounted thereon, second -spiral gears adapted to co-operate with said first mentioned spiral gears, the spacing between the said first mentioned spiral gears be- 1ng different from the distance between the the axial movement of said shaft, said shaft being variable in length between said first mentioned spiral gears, resilient means ,disposed intermediate of the length of said shaft for -controlling the distance between said first mentioned spiral gears, and clutch means cooperatively associated with each of said second gears and adapted under normal operation to permit rotation of each of said second gears in one direction only.

16. In winding and tightening mechanism, in combination, an axially movable rotatable shaft, spiral gears mounted thereon, second spiral gears adapted to co-operate with said first mentioned spiral gears, the spacing between said first mentioned spiral gears being different from the distance between the axes of said second spiral gears, said spacing being such that one of said first mentioned spiral gears is enmeshed with its mating second spiral gear before the other of said first mentioned spiral gears is demeshed from its mating second gear, each of said first mentioned spiral gears being capable of complete disengagement from its mating second spiral gearin the axial movement of said shaft, said shaft being variable in length between said first mentioned spiral gears, clutch means cooperatively associated with each of said second gears and adapted under normal operation to permit rotation of each of said second gears in one direction only, and means responsive to axial movement of said shaft for controlling the operativeness of one of said clutches.

17. In winding and tightening mechanism, in combination, an axially movable rotatable shaft, spiral gears mounted thereon, second spiral gears adapted to co-operate'with said first mentioned spiral gears, the spacing between said first mentioned iral gears being different from therdistance tween the axes of said second spiral gears, said 4spacing being such that one o said first mentioned spiral gears is enmeshed with its ma second spiral gear before the other of said rst mentioned spiral gears is demeshed from mating second gear, each of said'first mentioned spiral gears being capable of complete disengagement from its mating-second spiral gear in the axial movementvof said shaft, said shaft variable in length between said first mentioned spiral gears, re-

silient means disposed in said shaft for controlling the distance between said first mentioned spiral gears, clutch means co-operatively associated with each of said second gears and adapted under normal operation to permit rotation of each of said second gears in one direction only, and means responsive to axial .movement of said shaft for controlling the operativeness of one of said clutches.

18. In winding and tightening mechanism, in combination, lan axially movable rotatable shaft, spiral gears mounted thereon, second spiral gears adapted to co-operate with said first mentioned spiral gears, the spacing between said first mentioned spiral gears being different from the distance between the axes of said second spiral gears, said spacing being such that one of said first mentioned spiral gears is enmeshed with its mating second spiral gear before the other of said first mentioned spiral gears is demeshed from its mating second gear, each ofsaid first mentioned spiral gears being capable of complete disengagement from its mating second spiral gear in the axial movement of said shaft, said shaft being variable in length between said flrst mentioned spiral gears, clutch means co-operatively associated with each of said second gears and adapted under normal operation to permit rotation of each of. said second gears in one direction only, means responsive to axial movement of said shaft for controlling the operativeness of one of said clutches, and manually operable means for controlling the operativeness of the other of said clutches.

19. In winding and' tightening mechanism, in combination, an axially movable rotatable shaft, spiral gears mounted thereon, second spiral gears adapted to co-operate with said first mentioned spiral gears, the spacing between said first mentioned spiral gears being different from the distance between the axes of said second spiral gears, said spacing being such that one of said first mentioned spiral gears is enmeshed with its mating second spiral gear before the other of said first mentioned'spiral gears is demeshed from its mat- -ing second gear, each of said first mentioned losl . -central able means for controlling the operativeness of the other of said clutches.

20. In Winding and tightening mechanism, in combination, a pair of spindles, a band connectingsaid spindles, clutches co-operatively associated with each of said spindles and adapted under normal circumstances .to prevent the turning of said spindles under the pull of said band, an axially movable shaft for selectively communicating turning movements to said spindles, means responsive to axial movement of said shaft for controlling the operativeness of one of said clutches.

21. In Winding and tightening mechanism, in combinatioma pair of spindles, a band connecting said spindles, clutches co-operatively associated with each of said spindles. and adapted under normal circumstances to prevent the turning of said spindles under the pull of said band, an axially movable shaft for selectively communicating turning movements of said spindles, means responsive to axial movement of said shaft for controlling the operativeness of one of said clutches, and manually operable means for controlling the operativeness of the other of said clutches.

22. In winding and tightening mechanism, in combination, an axially movable rotatable shaft, said shaft having spiral gears mounted thereon, second spiral 'gears adapted to be enmeshed selectively with said first mentioned spiral gears, said shaft being composite in its nature having a central portion and two end rtions loosely connected to said ortlon, said first mentioned s iral gears being located upon said end portlons.

23. In wlnding and tightening mechanism, in combination, an axially movable rotatable shaft, said shaft having spiral gears mounted thereon, second spiral gears adapted to be and a handle spaced from the axis of said shaft, said handle having its axis parallel with said shaft and disposed in 120 degrees angular relationship with said arms.

25. In a hectograph machine, in combination, a bed, a carriage movable along said bed, a shaft parallel with the line of movement of said carriage, winding and tighten'- ing mechanism for a hectograph band adapted to be controlled in the rotation of said shaft, and a crank forsaid shaft, said crank having two arms extending radially at 120 A enmeshed selectively with said first mentioned spiral gears, said shaft being composite in its nature having a central portion. and two end portions loosely connected to said central portion, said first mentionedl spiral gears being located upon said end portions, said shaft being variable in len h and being provided With resilient means or controlling the distance between said i'rst mentioned spiral gears.

24. In a hectograph machine, in combination', a relatively stationary portion, a carriage movable along said relatively stationary portion, gelatin band winding and tightcning mechanism co-operatively associated with said relatively stationary portion, and an operating shaft for said winding and tightening mechanism, said shaft being disposed in parallelism with the line of movement of said carriage, said rotary shaft being provided with a crank for manual operation thereof, said crank having two radially disposed arms extending from the axis of said shaft at 120 degrees from one another, 

